Can shaking device



Feb. 20, 1951 A. w. ANDERSON ET Al.

CAN SHAKING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 Ammvwm.

Hm wm Zawe/wbo/w Axel W. Anderson 5nd. Rasln Cover )543/ @ai @jh AA. w. vANDERSON ET AL Feb. 20, 1951 CAN SHAKING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1950 M Wb mr S,

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Feb. 20, 1951 A w. ANDERSON l-:TAL

CAN SHAKING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 8,1950

xelwhnderson and Ralph Cover Ekko/www Feb. 20 1951 A. w. ANDERSON ET AL 2,542,451

CAN SHAKING DEVICE Filed Feb.- 8, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fisio 'BM/uan tow' Axel WAndzrson ha Ralph Cover Patented Feb. 20, 1951 `542,451 'CAN SHAKINGpEvrcE- Axel W. Anderson and Ralph .Geven Westminster,

Md., assignors to The United Company, Westminster, Md., a corporation ofMaryland Application February 8, 1950, Serial No.v 143,076

12 Glams.- l

This invention relates to machines for shaking containers to mix their contents. lSuch shaking treatment is used in various food lcanning proc.- esses, and the invention will be `described as ern-.- bodied for this purpose.

The suggested process and Athe mechanical embodiment of the invention here chosen for illustration are exemplary, and no necessary limitation to a food process or to a s pecic man chine is implied. Cans of paint and other prod-e ucts are sometimes shaken, and approximately cylindrical containers other than cans can :be treated. Preferably, the cylindrical containers are reciprocated in the general direction of their longitudinal axes and the apparatus will be described as so used. When this type -of shake is used the containers should approximate true cylinders closely enough to rollin a substantially straight line between guides, and in any case they should be substantially identical in form and size.

The machine can be set to yreceive containers of a considerable range of lengths and of a con siderable range of diameters. The rst commercial machine built would accept cans of 8` oz. capacity to number ten, and of any :commercial length and diameter, and will shake number two cans, at the rate of 200 cans per minute.

Means are provided to vvary the'speed .of shake between about 160 and 500 cycles per vminute with an amplitude of 21/2 inches. 'The amplitude is determined Vby the eifective radius of lthe cranks. Adjustable radius crank-s are knownfbut are not well adapted to withstand re-current shock. Hence, if change of amplitude ever be desired, it can best be effected 'by interchanging cranks of different radius. As a practical matter no condition requiring change of amplitude has been encountered.

Change of duration of treatment is effected by changing between 25 and '70 feet per Vminute :the lineal travel of .the conveyor belt.

All the figures above given Aare illustrative. They are values found practicable and satisfactory over a useful range of conditions.

A preferred embodiment of theinvention will now be `described by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from near the feed end, looking toward the right hand side Cif-:the machine, and shows all except the extreme discharge end of the machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical axial v-section of the feed end, showing the ight conveyor andthe flexole side guides which engage kthe ends of the sans.

2 Fig. 3 is a plan v-iew v,of the tparts shown-in Fig. 2.

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Fig. 4 is a plan View, largely diagrammatic, showing the conveyor belt, the side guides, the shaking ,trough .and the means for tensioning the side guides.

Fig, .5 is a detail plan ofthe articulated -iloor plate which .supports the conveyor belt, as Vthe latter approaches, passes; :through and leaves the shaking v trough. s

Fig. `6 isa bottom View .and Fig. 7 an 1axial section `through one yof the joints shown` in Fig. 5 and drawn .ona scalelarger than that .of Fig. k5.

Fig. 8 isa detail of they conveyor drive.

-l'ig. 9 is a fragmentary side .elevation ofthe discharge end portion of the machine. (a portion only partly visible in Fig. l).

Eig. 10 is a transverse section'through the Ina-.- chine, taken at the entrance to .the shaking sece tion and looking toward .the discharge end, and

Fig. 11 -is a detail ofone of vthe conveyor flights showing .the protective envelope.

Refer -rst to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. Since substantial. inertia effects'are developed, the machine requires .a rigid .and `massive frame. The main frame members .aresilIsJLSand .cross frames LB constructed .of ebeams welded together. Mounted on the I-:beams1at .opposite ends ofthe base frameare two similar frame structures 'Ll (best shown'in Fig. 1i and lli `(bestshownin Eig.f9). These framesare sustained laterally by diagonal braces .I9 and aresustained longitudiF nally by diagonal braces 2|. Theoform ofithe frames l1 and i8 is subject to .considerable possible variation, provided adequate `strengthis aioxtded. Consequently, -the .details of the frame are not elaborated.

Between the .twoend frames .-l'i and i8 .and supported directly .on the sills I5 are two heavy frames 22 and 23 which carry ythe bear-ings l2li `for two horizontal rocker shafts 25 which are parallel with the longitudinal sills i5. :The two frames 22 and 23 are braced together by the channel member 26 and are connected with the end frames H or 1 8, as the case maybe, 'by angle iron 'braces 21. Each shaft Y25 carries xed to .it a ,pair .of parallel rocker levers 2B,- These are the levers which Ycarry .the shaking trough. YAt midstroke .all `four of ,the levers 28 are vertical. They are .connected together in pairs ,at their lower ends bymassive ,links 2.9 which not only connect the rocker levers 28 for parallel motion, but also serve as counterweights for the shaker troughestructure. The :purpose is .to balance as closely as is reasonably practicable the oscillating masses in the machine.

Each of the combined counterweight and link members 29 is connected to the two sill members l5 by two coil tension springs 3l. These are selectively stressed as the members 29 move in reverse directions from their mid-position. The springs 3l perform a very useful function in smoothing the action of the machine, particularly at the moment of reversal of motion. The link members 29 are driven from a shaft 32 by cranks 33 each through a pitman 34. The cranks 33 are parallel and of equal radius s0 that the members 29 are reciprocated in phase With each other and with the same amplitude.

The shaft 32 is driven by a motor 35 through a variable ratio speed-reducing train of conventional form enclosed in the housing 35. As best shown in F ig. the drive is from the motor 35 through a sprocket chain and pinion generally indicated at 37 to the speed-reducing mechanism in the housing 35, and from that mechanism through another sprocket chain drive 38 to the shaft 32. In a commercial machine which has operated successfully the motor 35 is a constant speed electric motor and the variable speed reducer can be set to drive the shaft 32 at selected speeds from 160 revolutions to 500 revolutions per minute. The details of the speed-reducing mechanism are not illustrated as vthe device indicated at 35 is a standard commercial device.

The cranks 33 in the machine above mentioned have a radius such that the knuckle pins 35 at the upper ends of the four rocker levers 28 have an amplitude of approximately 21/2 inches when the shaft 32 is rotated. The pins 39 connect the levers 28 and bearing brackets 4l on two U-shaped frames 42 and 43 which support and are a part of the guiding frame which imparts a shaking motion to the cans. This frame also comprises four longitudinal angle pieces 44, two rectangular end frames 45 welded to the ends of the longitudinals 44 and a number of diagonal braces 46 so located as to stiiten the frame and render it adequate for the duty which it has to perform.

Adjacent the brackets 42 and 43 on both sides of the frame are two cross members 4l in which are adjustably mounted two support rods 48. These rods may be locked in adjusted position by clamping means indicated at 49 and carry bosses 5I to which the trough forming side plates 52 are connected.

The members 48, 49 and 5l are the means by which the plates 52 can be adjusted toward and from each other to dene diierent widths of guide trough for the cans.

Supported by the members 42 and 45 is the floor member 53 of the trough. This is ybest shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 10. It takes the form of an elongated steel plate welded to the shaking frame at the center and flexibly connected at its ends to an approach oor section 54 and a discharge floor section 55.

At their remote ends the sections 54 and 55 are hinged to brackets supported by the corresponding end frame. Such hinged support for the member 54 is clearly shown at 55 in Fig. 2. The joints between 53 on the one handand 54 and 55 on the other are clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. At the ends of the member 53 stirrrps 5l are Welded to its lower face. The stirrups receive tongues 58 welded to the lower face of the member 54 or 55 as the case may be. The ends of the tongues 58 are tapered and work freely, so far as lateral motion is concerned, in the corresponding stirrups 51. To prevent excessively free motion, small bolts 59 extend through the member 53 and the stirrup 5'1 and are set up sufficiently to aord moderate frictional resistance to motion. The purpose served by the bolts 59 is chiefly the reduction of noise.

Plates 52 are connected to corresponding flexible side-guides 6l which desirably are formed of heavy canvas belting. The connection is made by bolts whose heads are countersunk in the belting. Some of the bolts appear at 62 in Fig. 10. The flexible side-guides 5l are approximately coextensive with the door members 54, 53, 55 and are sustained by cylindrical support-members 63, best shown in Fig. 4.

These support-members 53 are journaled in four yokes 54 which are hinged to portions of the end frames Il or I8 as the case may be. Since the members 6I are nxed to the members 52, tension means must be applied to both ends of the members 6I. Thus, four tension members are used and take the form of rods 55 tensioned by coil compression springs 55 which can be adjustably stressed by turning the hand nuts 61 threaded on the end of each rod 65.

The tension in the member 5l tends to urge the supporting members 53 outward, i. e. away from each other. Consequently, they can be satisfactorily positioned by thrust screws 58, as best shown in Fig. 3. Since the length of the members 6i is several feet, and since their lateral motion at mid-length is only 21/2 inches, the motion of the tension rods 65 is slight, and indeed almost imperceptible.

To feed a series of cans into, through and out of the shaking section of the machine, use is made of a exible belt 'H carrying spaced flights l2. The belt 7| is narrower than the narrovvest adj'sted interval between the members 8l. The flights 'i2 do not extend quite the full width of the belt. They are protected by rubber sleeves 13 which, as best indicated in Fig. 1l, take the form of short sections of rubber tube stretched over the nights.

At the entrance end of the machine the belt 'H is supported on a cylindrical pulley 14. This is mounted on a shaft 'l5 driven through a sprocket chain 76 by a variable speed motor drive generally indicated at 'l. This drive is also a commercial mechanism and in the machine above referred to drives the belt at lineal speeds which can be adjusted between 18 and 70 feet per minute. The belt H is endless and. its discharge end is supported by a pulley 'i8 mounted in guides 'i9 and adjustable to tension the belt by conventional thrust screws 8|.

Cans are fed to the belt 'l down two guide angles 82 whose horizontal spacing is adjustable. The adjusting means is best shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and comprises split clamps 83 engaging the horizontal rods 84. The rods 84 are in turn supported by triangular frames clearly shown in Fig. 1. The guide angles 82 are also adjustable in a longitudinal direction by the slot and bolt arrangement indicated at 85.

Cans placed on the guides roll by gravity to the conveyor. At the discharge end, similar downwardly inclined guides 85 receive the cans from the conveyor. The guides 86 are essentially similar to the guides 82 and are similarly adjustable.

Operation As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2, the size and spacing of flights 12 is such acte-,4511

as to aiord considerable latitude: as. to' can diameter. Cans offvery large diameter'canzbeihandled by substituting a belt' carrying higher andi more. widely spaced ights. Belt changing` is. rarely required.

Usually the rst necessary adjustment is to space the plates 52A (and the attached flexible gui-des Eil) to accept: the'. desired. length 'of can. This can be done conveniently by successively loosening each clamp' 49', inserting a suitably dimensioned block gauge' betweenimember'll'l and the adjacent boss' 5l, and with the gaugeflling the interval, resetting the clamp'. This'assu'rescorrect alinement and is a quick andy simple operation. The feed and discharge' anglesV 82 and 86 can be spaced by trial with a can and can be centered by eye.

The rate of belt travel can be adjusted at-any: time (even while the machine'is running) by moving the control element of the commercial speed reducer- 'll in thef'ordinary manner.

The frequency of shake can be adjusted at any time (even while the machine is running) by moving the control element ofy the adjustable speed reducer v in the ordinary manner.

With all adjustments made, and the machine running, cans are fed to the guides S2 by any suitable conveyor, or manually. They are spaced by the flights on the conveyor belt and as they approach the shaking trough begin to shake, the amplitude of shake increasing until the full range is attained when they enter the trough. This amplitude continues until they reach the discharge end of the trough whereupon the amplitude of shake gradually diminishes.

The cans roll down guides 86- to an appropriate conveyor or other machine as circumstances dictate.

Economic conditions demand the use of light gauge tin plate, and lock seams for many cans. Such cans are relatively weak and susceptible to mechanical injury ranging from impairedv appearance to leaky seams. The invention handles the cans by cushioned surfaces throughout the entire zone where any shaking occurs. As a consequence it is possible to use agreater amplitude and a higher frequency than has heretofore been used commercially, and to do so despite therelatively weak construction of present day cans.

Unlike prior art shakers the cans are never so handled that they tend. to stack. Since eachcan is individually supported at all times, the. risk of mechanical injury is minimized.

The machine subjects the cans toa violent shaking treatment, without marking any can and without damage to seams.

Limitations to the specific structure above described, or any detail thereof is not implied, the scope of the invention being defined solely by the claims.

We claim:

1. In a machine for shaking cans the combination of a supporting frame; rocking levers supported thereby; a can guiding member supported by said levers, forming therewith a parallel bar linkage, and arranged to guide cans in a direction normal to the planes in. which said levers oscillate said member having a iloor and two sides spaced to afford atrou'gh-like' p'assageway for a succession of cans; Aapproach and. discharge licor sections hingedly connected at' one end with said frame, and at the other` end, each with a corresponding end of: said door; iiexible guide strips connectedto the inner' faces of said sides and extending substantially throughout the' aggregatelength; of: said floor" andi the' approach:

and: discharge: door sections', said. stri'psl'o'eing supported at each' end: on. said supporting frame. and' extending'fre'ely from the'. point of su'ch'. support' levers; and means for driving said` conveyor beltl 2; Thec'om'bination' defined in' claim' lin which the flexiblevgui'de' strips are' of a fabric having a cushioning characteristic, and cushioning' e'nvelope'sare mounted on' saidilights,

3. In a machine for shaking cans the oombina'tion ofl a supporting frame; rocking levers supported thereby; a can-guiding member supported by said levers, forming therewith a parallely bar linkage, 'and arranged to. guide cans in' a direction normalto the planes in which saidV levers oscillate said member having a floor and two sides spaced to afford a trough-like passage- Way for va succession of cans; approach and discharge floor sections hingedly connected at one en'd with said frame, and at the other end, eachv with a correspondingend of said floor; flexible guide'strips connected to theinner faces of said sides and extending substantially throughout the aggregate length-of' said door and the approach and discharge floor sections, said stripsA being supported ateach end on said supporting frame' and extending freely from the' point of such support to respective ends of'said can-guiding member; a conveyor beltnarrower than said trough supported by saidfloor and floor sections and having can feeding flights; pulley means' sustained by said' supporting frame for tensioning and guiding said conveyor belt; means for oscillating said levers; means for varying the frequency of such oscillation; and means for driving said conveyor belt.

4. In a machine for shaking cans the combination of a supporting frame; rocking levers supported thereby; a can guiding member supported by said-l levers and arranged to guide cans in a direction normal to the-planes in which said levers oscillate said member having a floor and two sides spaced to afford a trough-like passageway for a succession ofv cans; means arording adjustment of the interval between said sides; approach and discharge floor sections hingedly connected at one end with said frame, and at thel other end, each with a corresponding end of said door; exible guide strips connected to the inner faces of said sides andl extending substantially throughout the aggregate length of said floor and the approach and discharge floor sections, said strips being supported at each end on said supporting frame and extending freely from the point of such support to respective ends of' said can-guiding member; a conveyor belt narrower than said trough supported by said floor and floor sections and having can feeding ights; pulley means sustained by said supporting frame for tensioning and guiding said conveyor belt ;1 means for oscillating said levers; and' means for driving said conveyor belt.

5. Ih a machine for shaking cans the combination of a supporting frame; rocking levers supportedI thereby; a can guiding member sup.- ported by said levers, forming therewith aA parallel bar linkage, andv arranged to guide cans.x

in a direction normal to the planes in which said levers oscillate said member having a oor and two sides spaced to aord a trough-like passageway for a succession of cans; approach and discharge floor sections hingedly connected at one end with said frame, and at the other end, each with a corresponding end of said floor; flexible guide strips connected to the inner faces of said sides and extending substantially throughout the aggregate length of said floor and the approach and discharge floor sections, said strips being supported at each end on said supporting frame and extending freely from the point of such support to respective ends of said can-guiding member; independent tensioning means reacting on respective opposite ends of said guid strips; a conveyor belt narrower than said trough supported by said floor and door sections and having can feeding flights; puller,r means sustained by said supporting frame for tensioning and guiding said conveyor belt; means for oscillating said levers; and means for driving said conveyor belt` 6. In a machine for shaking cans the combination of a supporting frame; rocking levers' supported thereby; a can guiding member supported by said levers and arranged to guide cans in a direction normal to the planes in which said levers oscillate said member having a oor and two sides spaced to aford a trough-like passageway for a succession of cans; approach and discharge floor sections hingedly connected at one end with said frame, and at the other end, each with a corresponding end of said floor; iiexible guide strips connected to the inner faces of said sides and extending substantially throughout the aggregate length of said floor and the approach and discharge floor sections; guide rollers engaging the end portions of said flexible guide strips; means for adjusting said rollers in directions transverse to said approach and discharge sections respectively; elastic tensioning means arranged to draw the end portions of said strips around said rollers; a conveyor belt narrower than said trough supported by said floor and iloor sections and having can feeding flights; means for oscillating said levers; and means for driving said conveyor belt.

7. In a machine for shaking cans the combination of a supporting frame; rocking levers supported thereby; a can guiding member supported by said levers and arranged to guide cans in a direction normal to the planes in which said levers oscillate said member having a iioor and two sides spaced to aiord a trough-like passageway for a succession of cans; approach and discharge floor sections hingedly connected at one end with said frame, and at the other end, each with a corresponding end of said floor; flexible guide strips connected to the inner faces of said sides and extending substantially throughout the aggregate length of said floor and the approach and discharge floor sections; guide rollers engaging the end portions of said iiexible guide strips; means for adjusting said rollers in directions transverse to said approach and discharge sections respectively; elastic tensioning means arranged to draw the end portions of said strips around said rollers; means for adjusting the stress exerted by said tensioning means; a conveyor belt narrower thanrsaid trough supported by said floor and floor sections and having can feeding nights; means for oscillating said levers; and means for driving said conveyor belt.

- 8. In a machine for shaking cans the combination of a supporting frame; rocking levers supported thereby; a can guiding member supported by said levers and arranged to guide cans in a direction normal to the planes in which said levers oscillate said member having a floor and two sides spaced to afford a trough-like passageway for a succession of cans; approach and discharge floor sections hingedly connected at one end with said frame, and at the other end, each with a corresponding end of said floor; fiexible guide strips connected to the inner faces of said sides and extending substantially throughout the aggregate length of said iioor and the approach and discharge oor sections said strips being supported at each end on said supporting frame and extending freely from the point of such support to respective ends of said can-guiding member; a conveyor belt narrower than said trough supported by said floor and floor sections and having can feeding flights; means for oscillating said levers; pulley means sustained by said supporting frame for tensioning and guiding said conveyor belt; means for driving said conveyor belt; and means for varying the speed of operation of said driving means.

9. In a can shaking device the combination of means forming an approximately horizontal can-way adapted to receive cans and guide them in a longitudinal traverse of the can-Way, said means comprising a laterally exible floor made up of articulated sections and sides spaced apart a distance approximating the corresponding dimension of the cans to be shaken, each side being formed of a continuous flexible strip adapted to resist substantial tensile stress; xed supports at respective ends 0i said can-Way; means carried by said supports and serving to stress said strips in tension; hinged connections Ibetween said supports and the terminal portions of said iicor; a horizontal reciprocable frame engaging and supporting the mid-portion or" said can-way; a conveyor belt extending over the oor of said canway in contact therewith and having upstanding flights adapted to engage individual cans and propel them while spaced apart in continuous series along said can-Way; pulley means for tensioning and driving said belt; axed support for said pulley means; and independent connections for driving said pulley means and for reciprocating said frame.

10. The combination dened in claim 9 in which the iiexible strips which form the sides of the can-way comprise a flexible fabric material and each is attached approximately at its mid-length to said reciprocable frame.

l1. In a can shaking device the combination of means forming an approximately horizontal can-way adapted to receive cans and guide them in a longitudinal traverse of the can-Way, said means comprising a laterally exible floor made up of articulated sections and sides spaced apart a distance approximating the corresponding dimension of the cans to be shaken, each side being formed of a continuous flexible strip adapted to resist substantial tensile stress; xed supports at respective ends of said can-way; means carried by said supports and serving to stress said strips in tension; hinged connections between said sup-ports and the terminal portions of said oor; a horizontal reciprocable frame engaging and supporting the mid-portion of said can-way; a conveyor belt extending over the iioor of said can-way in contact therewith and having upstanding flights adapted to engage individual cans and propel them while spaced apart in continuous series along said can-Way; pulley means for tensioning and driving said belt; a fixed support for said pulley means; Va manually adjustable variable speed drive for said pulley means; and amanually adjustable variable speed drive for reciprocating said reciprocable frame.

12. In a can shaking device the combination of means forming an approximately horizontal can-way adapted to receive cans and guide them in a longitudinal traverse of the can-Way, said means comprising a laterally flexible iloor and laterally flexible sides spaced apart a distance approximating the corresponding dimension 0f the cans to he shaken; said floor comprising at least three sections and hinge connections be tween said sections each including a tongue on one section, a stirrup in the adjacent section embracing said tongue and means for flexing the stirrup into frictional engagement with the related tongue; fixed supports for respective ends of said can-Way; a horizontally reciproca/ble frame engaging and supporting the mid-portion of said can-way; a conveyor belt extending over the floor of said can-way in contact therewith REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,225,774 Cook Mar. 15, 1917 1,589,079 Johnson et al June 15, 1926 1,594,227 Thompson July 27, 1926 1,655,340 Sell Jan. 3, 1928 2,234,953

Belcher et a1. Mar. 18, 1941 

